by our College Data Analytics TeamHow many CF first-year students return for their second year, and how many go on to graduate? Retention and graduation rates help you understand how students progress at CF. First year retention shows who comes back, and graduation rates show who finishes and how long it takes.
How many of the estimated 1030 students in the class of 2023 actually finished their degree in a timely fashion?
Four years after beginning their degree, 44% of those students had graduated. By 2025, six years after starting their degree, 46% of the students had graduated and after eight years 47% of this class completed their degree.
Any student who completes their bachelor's degree within six years is considered to have graduated on time, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This makes the offical CF graduation rate 46%.
| Completion Within | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 980 | 44% |
| Six Years | 1030 | 46% |
| Eight Years | 24 | 1% |
| Did Not Complete | 1187 | 53% |
The non-completers rate is anyone who is not still enrolled at the institution after eight years. Both transfer students and drop-outs could be included in this group.
Approximately 1187 students or 53% of the cohort did not complete their degree within eight years.
What happened to the 1187 students who did not complete their degree?
0 are still enrolled.
516 transferred to another institution.
CF lost contact with the remaining 657 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.0% |
| Transferred | 516 | 43.5% |
| Dropped Out | 657 | 55.3% |
| Race/Ethnicity | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaskan Native | 50% |
| Asian | 65% |
| Black / African-American | 32% |
| Hispanic | 40% |
| International | 54% |
| Multi-Ethnic | 33% |
| Unknown | 57% |
| White | 47% |
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25 are much more likely to graduate in four years. Some schools cater to mostly traditional students while others cater to 'non-traditional' students. So called 'non-traditional' students include part-time students or those who may be returning after an absense. It is common for part-time and/or adult students to take longer to graduate.
Traditional Students:
First-time, full-time students under the age of 25.
Non-Traditional Students:
Any student that is not first-time, full-time, and under the age of 25.
A meaningful share of students at CF are considered 'non-traditional students' who are not first-time, full-time, and under 25.
Comparing the graduation rates of the specific cohorts below can be more revealing than the overall graduation rates.
First-time / full-time students at College of Central Florida represent 46.10% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CF graduation rate was 49%, and by the eight year mark, 50% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 37.92% after four years, 46.43% after six years, and 47.82% after eight years.
| Completions | CF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 37.92% |
| Six Years | 49% | 46.43% |
| Eight Years | 50% | 47.82% |
514 first-time / full-time students or 50% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
4 are still enrolled.
216 transferred to another institution.
CF lost contact with the remaining 294 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 4 | 0.78% |
| Transferred | 216 | 42.02% |
| Dropped Out | 294 | 57.20% |
First-time / part-time students at College of Central Florida represent 28.09% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CF graduation rate was 29%, and by the eight year mark, 31% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 14.37% after four years, 21.59% after six years, and 23.72% after eight years.
| Completions | CF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 26% | 14.37% |
| Six Years | 29% | 21.59% |
| Eight Years | 31% | 23.72% |
437 first-time / part-time students or 69% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
7 are still enrolled.
188 transferred to another institution.
CF lost contact with the remaining 242 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 7 | 1.60% |
| Transferred | 188 | 43.02% |
| Dropped Out | 242 | 55.38% |
Returning / full-time students at College of Central Florida represent 12.93% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CF graduation rate was 65%, and by the eight year mark, 67% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 53.83% after six years, and 55.07% after eight years.
| Completions | CF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 0% | 49.57% |
| Six Years | 65% | 53.83% |
| Eight Years | 67% | 55.07% |
97 non first-time / part-time students or 33% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
0 are still enrolled.
51 transferred to another institution.
CF lost contact with the remaining 46 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 0 | 0.00% |
| Transferred | 51 | 52.58% |
| Dropped Out | 46 | 47.42% |
Returning / part-time students at College of Central Florida represent 12.88% of the students in the class of 2023.
After six years, the CF graduation rate was 51%, and by the eight year mark, 52% of the cohort had completed their degree.
Nationwide, the average graduation rate for this group is 30.46% after four years, 36.03% after six years, and 37.80% after eight years.
| Completions | CF | Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| Four Years | 48% | 30.46% |
| Six Years | 51% | 36.03% |
| Eight Years | 52% | 37.80% |
139 non first-time / part-time students or 48% did not complete their degree within eight years.
Of those who did not finish:
3 are still enrolled.
61 transferred to another institution.
CF lost contact with the remaining 75 who we assumed dropped out.
| Non-Completions | Undergraduates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Still Enrolled | 3 | 2.16% |
| Transferred | 61 | 43.88% |
| Dropped Out | 75 | 53.96% |
